Tears of joy and relief were shed by Highwood High grads, parents and other family members on Thursday.
The annual graduation ceremony started just after 10 a.m. at the Museum of the Highwood as students lined up for their traditional photo.
Then the grads marched to George Lane Memorial Park for the ceremony at 11.
Over 600 people packed the area around the gazebo for the ceremony.
The weather was perfect, perhaps a bit too sunny, as some parents and family were sporting some sunburns after the almost 90-minute ceremony.
Special dignitaries were invited, and they shared their congratulations and warmest wishes for the graduate students.
Assistant Superintendent of Foothills School Division Drew Chipman shared some thoughts as he is also moving on to greener pastures.
Chipman is now retired after serving 36 years within the public education system.
High River's Mayor spoke and shared some sage advice, also pointing out that this grad class were the first to start attending school after the 2013 flood that devastated the town.
Foothills School Division council member Phil Irwin also spoke, as did special guest Jessica Mills. Mills is a former Mustang and graduated in 2014.